Kṛṣṇa warns against the mentality of a parasite. He says that the higher powers supply all the necessities of life when they are satisfied by our work and sacrifice. But anyone who enjoys these gifts without offering them back in return is certainly a thief. We take air, water, and food from nature every day. If we never say ‘Thank You’ and never perform our prescribed duties toward the whole, we are stealing from the system. A thief may enjoy for a short while, but he is always under the shadow of punishment and guilt. Modern society is largely a civilization of takers, which is why there is so much anxiety and ecological crisis. Kṛṣṇa is teaching Arjuna that the act of work must be an act of gratitude. Fighting for Dharma is Arjuna’s way of ‘paying back’ his debt to the universe and the Lord who maintains it.